Sutra 22

The Narada Bhakti Sutra 22

तत्रापि न माहात्म्यज्ञानविस्मृत्यपवादः॥ २२॥

"Even there, in this condition of total Love, there is no danger of forgetting the Glory of the Lord."

Generally there is a widespread feeling among the students of Bhāgavata that the loving milkmaids of Vrindavan were sheer sentimental lovers of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, with no understanding of His Real eternal nature as the sarvātman, the Self in all. The Gopis were considered as the many beloveds of the Lord, and that they had no true Wisdom (jñāna). 

This idea is not true, as in the very Bhāgavata we find many expressions, which clearly declare the true experiences of the Lord’s infinite nature lived by the Gopis in their humble homes in Vraja. They had no illusions that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, their hearts’ beloved, was a mere gopa boy. The Gopīs were the greatest devotees of the Lord but at the same time, they had a very clear and vivid knowledge of the glory and majesty of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s True Nature. They did not ever consider the Divine boy as only an enchanting Yādava child. They realised that the flute player of the Yamuna banks was the Supreme Puruṣa of the Upaniṣads.

This Sutra emphasizes the importance of always remembering the greatness and Glory of the Divine, even when one is deeply immersed in the Love of God. It suggests that True Devotion is characterized by an unceasing Awareness of the Divine's majesty, which should not be overshadowed by the intensity of one's love. This Constant Remembrance is what differentiates mere emotional attachment from profound spiritual Devotion.

In the context of bhakti, or devotional love, this Sutra serves as a reminder that the devotee should not get so lost in their emotions that they forget the Divine attributes of God. The Love for God should be such that it enhances the devotee's appreciation of God's greatness rather than causing them to forget it. This is a State of Devotion where Love and Reverence coexist, ensuring that the devotee's actions and thoughts are always aligned with the Divine Will.

The Sutra also implies that the knowledge of God's greatness is what fuels the devotee's love. It is not a blind love but an informed one, where the devotee is fully aware of whom they are devoted to. This awareness keeps the devotee grounded in spiritual reality, preventing them from straying into illusion or ego-driven forms of worship.

For comparison, here are three similar verses from Vedic texts:

Rigveda (1.1.2):

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवं रत्वीजम्।

"I adore Agni, the priest, the divine minister of the sacrifice, the invoker, lavisher of wealth."

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23):

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिर्यथा देवे तथा गुरौ।

"He who has Highest Bhakti of Deva (God), just like his Deva, so for his Guru (teacher), to him those secrets were told, and he knows Brahman."

These verses, like Narada Bhakti Sutra 22, highlight the significance of Devotion and the Constant Remembrance of the Divine's greatness in the path of Spiritual progress. They all convey the message that True Devotion is not only about love but also about the recognition and reverence of the Divine attributes.